Retinal rejuvenation laser

Abstract

A laser treatment device for use in retinal regeneration. The laser treatment device includes a laser module that delivers a pulse or sequence of pulses having a pulse duration in the range of 50 ps to 500 ns, a wavelength in the range 500 nm to 900 nm, and a pulse energy in the range 100 μJ to 10 mJ. The laser treatment device also includes a uniform irradiance module that modifies an output beam profile of the laser module to produce a uniform treatment effect and a beam delivery and viewing module that delivers the laser pulse or pulses to the retina with a radiant exposure in the range of 8 mJ/cm 2 to 8000 mJ/cm 2 per pulse.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A laser treatment device for improving the function of the retina of a human eye by speckle pattern irradiation through the cornea of the eye to the retinal pigmented epithelium, comprising: a laser module producing a laser pulse or sequence of laser pulses each having: a pulse duration in the range of 50 ps to 500 ns; a wavelength in the range 500 nm to 900 nm; and a pulse energy in the range 10 μJ to 10 mJ; a uniform irradiance module that modifies an output beam profile of each pulse of the laser module to have a different granular spatial distribution of laser energy in order to optimize the therapeutic benefit provided by the laser treatment device; and a beam delivery and viewing module that delivers the laser pulse or pulses to the retinal pigmented epithelium with a radiant exposure in the range of 8 mJ/cm 2  to 8000 mJ/cm 2  per pulse. 
     
     
       2. The laser treatment device of  claim 1  wherein the laser module produces from 1 to 5 laser pulses. 
     
     
       3. The laser treatment device of  claim 1  wherein the laser module produces a single pulse. 
     
     
       4. The laser treatment device of  claim 1  wherein pulse duration is around 3 ns. 
     
     
       5. The laser treatment device of  claim 1  wherein the laser module comprises a Q-switched solid state laser. 
     
     
       6. The laser treatment device of  claim 1  further comprising a frequency doubling crystal. 
     
     
       7. The laser treatment device of  claim 1  wherein the wavelength is about 532 nm. 
     
     
       8. The laser treatment device of  claim 1  producing a radiant exposure in the range 20 mJ/cm 2  to 300 mJ/cm 2  per pulse. 
     
     
       9. The laser treatment device of  claim 1  wherein the laser module contains an optical attenuator. 
     
     
       10. The laser treatment device of  claim 9  wherein the optical attenuator comprises a half wave plate and a polarizing optic. 
     
     
       11. The laser treatment device of  claim 1  wherein the uniform irradiance module comprises an optical fibre. 
     
     
       12. The laser treatment device of  claim 11  wherein the optical fibre has a numerical aperture in the range 0.1 to 0.35. 
     
     
       13. The laser treatment device of  claim 11  wherein the uniform irradiance module further comprises an optical fibre vibrator. 
     
     
       14. The laser treatment device of  claim 1  wherein the uniform irradiance module further comprises a motor with an offset load shaft that mechanically vibrates the optical fibre. 
     
     
       15. The laser treatment device of  claim 1  wherein the beam delivery and viewing module includes an optical zoom module. 
     
     
       16. A method of laser treatment of the retina of a human eye by speckle pattern irradiation through the cornea of the eye to the retinal pigmented epithelium, the method comprising: producing a laser pulse or sequence of laser pulses each having: a pulse duration in the range of 50 ps to 500 ns; a wavelength in the range 500 nm to 900 nm; a pulse energy in the range 10 μJ to 10 mJ; modifying an output beam profile of each laser pulse to have a different granular spatial distribution of laser energy in order to optimize the therapeutic benefit provided by the laser treatment; and delivering the laser pulse or pulses to the retinal pigmented epithelium with a radiant exposure in the range of 8 mJ/cm 2  to 8000 mJ/cm 2  per pulse. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the method includes the step of selecting the number of pulses delivered in order to achieve a desired coverage of a target treatment zone. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , wherein a single laser pulse is produced and delivered.